IT has become very clear that the organisation that is Miss South Africa has no intention of letting our reigning queen speak for herself about Mandla Mandela’s real and legitimate plea for Miss South Africa to boycott the Miss Universe pageant in Israel.
What does that say about an organisation that speaks to the rights and voices of women in our country? A country that clearly benefitted from the cultural and sport boycott against apartheid during the struggle years.
This young woman has an opportunity to stand up and send a very powerful message to the world, that the continued persecution of Palestinians by the state of Israel no longer can be tolerated.
But she has not been afforded the oppotunity. The idea that Miss South Africa as an organisation is not “getting involved” is ridiculous.
Going means you are involved.
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When artists refused to perform in apartheid South Africa and battles were fought by protesters on sport fields when South Africa played overseas in violation of the boycott, the press wrote about it and the plight of South Africans fighting for their country and freedom was bought to the attention of the world, and pressure was applied.
This is a golden opportunity to stand up for human rights and the injustice of what has been determined an apartheid regime by Human Rights Watch and the Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B’Tselem.
Instead, as a country, we must be embarrassed by Miss South Africa’s handlers who clearly have no idea what side of history they are on. – Deputy Editor
